FedEx employees accused of stealing $7,500-worth of iPads

January 13, 2014|By Rachel Cromidas, @rachelcromidas | RedEye

Two FedEx employees were caught trying to steal $7,500 worth of iPads from a storage facility, county prosecutors said.

Michael Brooks, 20, of the 2300 block of South Kolin Avenue, and Javunte Wheeler, 19, of Cicero, both FedEx laborers, were arrested at the Park Ridge Storage facility, in the 11600 block of West Touhy Avenue, after video surveillance cameras allegedly caught them in the act, according to court records.

The police report said Brooks and Wheeler hid about 15 iPads and one iPhone 5 in a flat mail tray underneath a sweatshirt, then brought the items to the fence line separating the secure facility from a parking lot, where they attempted to toss the items over the fence to a waiting getaway vehicle, the report said.

Police officers were called by FedEx employees and they arrested Brooks and Wheeler at the scene, the report said.

Both men were brought to the Cook County Criminal Courthouse on Monday afternoon and released on $10,000 I-bonds.